NATURAL HISTORY. 83 



" That is a sensible thought, boys. Always 

 think for yourselves ; and when you make a 

 mistake, try again : everybody is mistaken 

 sometimes. Let it teach you to be modest 

 and humble ; but do not be afraid to think 

 again. A person who is always thinking 

 cannot always think wrong. Now you sup- 

 pose the marmot's feet may be made like a 

 duck's for swimming : let me tell you some- 

 thing else, and we shall see what you will 

 think then. The marmot hates a rain as 

 much as you would if you had no umbrella ; 

 he very seldom even drinks water, and then 

 only a little ; and you cannot drive him into 

 a stream or pond ; he is afraid of it. What 

 do you think now ?" 



" Why, Uncle Philip, we think that he is 



no swimmer.' 1 



" Very true, boys : so his feet, then, you 

 now think, were made for spades, and not for 

 paddles T 



" We do. Can you tell us any thing more 

 about this animal, Uncle Philip ?" 



"Oh yes. The burrows or holes of the 

 marmot run a great distance under ground, 

 and end in several chambers or rooms, ac- 

 cording to the number that is to live in them, 



